The Scarlet Knights have received a verbal commitment from Maiscei Grier, a freshman from Arbor View High School in Las Vegas. His father is Marshall Grier, who played for Hill at Rider after he transferred from Penn State, where he played for Hill’s uncle, Brian Hill.

Grier visited the campus this past week with his father before making the decision, which Marshall said was based primarily on the man in charge of the program. He is 5-foot-8, 125 pounds and just turned 14 years old in September; his father, who doubles as his coach, views him as a combo guard in college after he grows a few inches.

Grier is the latest youngster to commit to college before playing a varsity game. This summer, 5-9, 138-pound Ryan Boatright, now a freshman at East Aurora High outside Chicago, committed to Southern California before he had even chosen a high school.

Maiscei competes for the Rims club team, where he averaged 25 points and five rebounds last season. A Google search for his name yields no mention. No rankings, nothing. Yet Marshall and Rims coach Reggie Rouse say he is both talented and hard-working.

“He can score,” Rouse said. “He’s not the greatest shooter in the world, but he knows how to score.

“(And) he has the work ethic of a grown man. If we lose a game, Mais will be in the park working on his game. By the time he’s ready to come there, he’ll be ready to play in any league, not just the Big East.”

That may be the case, but this year Maiscei likely won’t even play for the varsity at Arborview. He said he wants to get experience playing with the freshman team.

RU was 11-19 last year, Hill’s first campaign; barring an extension (or a firing), the coach’s contract will expire after Grier’s presumptive freshman season (but then, who says the kid will be there longer than a single year?).